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Play trailer Poster for Watchers R,  1988,  1h 32m,  Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 17% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 30% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
17% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 30% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A spirited golden retriever survives an explosion at a secret government lab and makes its way to the suburbs, where it is taken in by Travis (Corey Haim), a lonely teenager. Travis quickly discovers that the dog is highly intelligent and is able to use the English language. A ruthless government agent named Lem (Michael Ironside) is out to retrieve the animal, as well as another mutated beast that was released in the explosion and has since embarked on a murderous rampage.

Critics Reviews

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Paul Lê Bloody Disgusting Oct 21, 2026
4/5
Fans can attest to there being an almost uncanny quality about Watchers that makes it tremendously entertaining, regardless of its glaring shortcomings. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Sep 8, 2020
5/10
With a consistently serious tone, sudden moments of grisliness, Ironside's nasty villain, and Sandy the dog actor hitting all her cues, it's a routinely competent thriller. Go to Full Review
Steve Newton Georgia Straight Feb 10, 2014
0/5
Watchers is a real mess, and it's only a couple of steps up from the dismal Maximum Overdrive, the last Stephen King story to be slaughtered on the screen. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Nov 6, 2005
2/5
Scott Weinberg eFilmCritic.com May 17, 2004
2/5
We're talking about the only film in the history of celleloid that hopes to entice viewers by placing the name of Corey Haim above the title! Go to Full Review
Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Oct 31, 2003
1/4
Arguably, though, the film is worth it for the sight of Haim getting stabbed in the leg and screaming like Demi Moore: you can't script time capsule stuff like that. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Hermione M Sep 15, 2017 I like it quite a bit. I read the book too, and although they are very different, I liked them both for different reasons.
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Watchers

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis A spirited golden retriever survives an explosion at a secret government lab and makes its way to the suburbs, where it is taken in by Travis (Corey Haim), a lonely teenager. Travis quickly discovers that the dog is highly intelligent and is able to use the English language. A ruthless government agent named Lem (Michael Ironside) is out to retrieve the animal, as well as another mutated beast that was released in the explosion and has since embarked on a murderous rampage.
Director
Jon Hess
Producer
Damian Lee, David Mitchell
Screenwriter
Bill Freed, Damian Lee
Production Co
Concorde Pictures, Rose & Ruby Productions, Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Box Office (Gross USA)
$457.0K
Runtime
1h 32m
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